Hey ;)

This chapter is just an intro to the characters and stuff, setting the scene and what not. I only own the characters of; Josaphine Linn, General Joaux, Sargent Withers and Sargent Bullbarry. The rest of them belong to the most amazing Golden God Derek Landy!

Its my first story so please enjoy! :D


I run through the deserted town, the ruins of the small Irish village standing out strongly against the rising sun. The worn walls charred from where Mevolent's men had burned down houses killing the men women and children who escaped the inferno. Now I stick to the same walls using their shadow from the rising sun as cover. I glance upwards and find an archer crouched on a singed thatched roof. Before he has time to react I shoot one of my own arrows his way. It flies through the air and finds its mark, hitting the archer below the chin where his armour fails to protect his neck. Of course this is an exam and my arrows have been made safe but I still hear a gagging noise come from the soldier as the arrow connected with his Adams apple. With this being my final cadet exam many fellow soldiers dress in black and pretend to be Mevolent's men. My objective is to get to the other side of this village safely and within the time limit. Fail to make it there 'alive' or in time you fail the exam and have to repeat the 18 months of cadet training. Failing is not an option for me.

I press on through the village, as I turn onto what is left of the main street I am faced with 15 men dressed in black marching my way, bows and swords at the ready. I retreat quietly and back into a door way to wait for them to pass. Someone grabs me from behind, their black gloved hands hold onto me tightly. I knock my head backwards and my skull connects with his nose. When I stomp my boot onto his foot and stabbed his ribs with my elbow, he grunts and I wonder how many of my fellow comrades he's attacked this morning. With my other hand I spread my fingers and feel the slight buzz from my magic. I channel the magic and press my hand against the man's leg sending a bolt of electricity through his thigh. His grip on me loosens and I twist away from him whipping out a wooden knife from my belt. I haven't been armed with real weapons. All I have is a bow and several safety arrows, a long wooden sword, a stick of dynamite- which is really a piece of wood painted red- and the small wooden knife that I now hold up to the man in black's neck. He nods and makes a motion to indicate that I have killed him sufficiently. He slumps in the doorway he'll wait there 'dead' until I'm finished the exam. I looked up and down the street to make sure my scuffle in the doorway has gone unnoticed.

Heading back the way I had come I glance at my watch. From what I can tell I have three minutes to complete my exam. I curse under my breath dismissing the fact that my choice of words are un-lady like.

Turning another corner I completely lose my bearings, now I am lost in a maze of narrow alleys. What makes it worse is the sickening feeling that I'm being surrounded. I was right, I am surrounded. I find this out when I finally break out of the alleys and into a wide street. Terrace houses lie on either side of the street they only break at the alley which I've just come out of. Coming down the street in both directions are three rows of men, all dressed in black and they're all armed. I don't get much of a chance to decide what to do next before an arrow zooms past my face. I dive back into the alley. Damn. They'll be on me in no time and what will I do then? I don't have enough arrows to shoot that amount of men and there isn't enough space to swing my sword. I begin to panic, I can't fail this exam. I check my watch again, only two minutes left.

I swiftly climb the side of what used to be a shop building. I scramble onto the roof. Looking around I see the finish line. A single green flag flaps in the wind, underneath the flag three officers stand taking notes on clipboards and discussing my performance. They don't think I can pass just because I'm a girl. Well I am about to be the first woman in history to join the white mages army because now I have a plan.

The men have all started to pile into the alley. I wait until they are below me then I take out the stick of dynamite. I throw it down onto of the men and run as fast as I can towards the finish line. I don't bother to check for survivors of my pretend explosion. I run straight to the finish line without looking back. I reach the green flag panting the sprint from the shop to the finish was at least five hundred meters. I check my watch; I've finished with forty seconds spare. I look up at the three men. Commander withers is a tall well built man who looks like he's taken too much from the cook's store. His face is red and full of puss filled pimples. His small beady grey eyes are nearly hidden by his lumpy features. Standing next to him is sergeant Bullbarry; he is a quiet man, scrawny but from what I hear is a very powerful mage. I don't know much about him other than he fought off fifteen of Movelents men single handed. For that alone I respect him even if he isn't the kindest of gentlemen.

Standing to the left of withers stands one of my favourite sergeants of all, Corrival Deuce. He is friendly, supportive and encouraging even though he can be grumpy at times. He's taught me everything I know. Despite me being a girl he still treats me with utmost respect and stands up for me when most people refuse to accept me into the army. He got me a place in cadet training and I owe it to him to pass the exam and to prove that I am worth the risk. I look at the expression on his face. His wise eyes are trying to tell me something he can't say out loud. His body language puzzles me. He should be happy for me, standing tall and beaming with pride, but instead he stands back drawn into himself. Deuce doesn't seem disappointed he seems angry. The more I look at him the more I see that he's fuming.

'Sir?' I ask not sure on what to say. None of the men have spoken since I ran over the finish line. 'You have not completed your exam Cadet Linn' Bullbarry says in his low monotone voice. What does he mean? I aced the exam I was in the time limit and am uninjured. What more could I possibly do? I look to deuce for an answer but he won't meet my eye. 'Pardon me sergeant, but I don't understand. I am uninjured and I made it to the finish within the time limit. I completed the objective,' I say barely able to stop my voice from shaking. This can't be happening to me I've worked too hard for this.

Sergeant Bullbarry doesn't reply.

'What?' I exclaim 'What more do I have to do to pass? Tell me and I'll do it,' my panic mixes with anger I now know why Deuce is angry the men won't pass me on the basis that I am a woman. No one moves or offers me an answer. Withers just smiles enjoying putting me through this.

'Josephine!' my name rings through the town. I whip my head around searching for the caller. 'Jo, help me!' Skulduggery Pleasant's velvet voice roars into the morning air.


So. . . Did you like it? i'll update asap! Please review and tell me what you think. Sorry for any mistakes :)